Brown Addresses Bristol Little League at Pre-Tournament Banquet

Jul 13, 2012

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Bristol Tennessee Little League hosted a banquet for its 10 teams participating in the annual 9 and 10 -year-old State Baseball Tournament at the MacClellan Hall Dining Center on Friday, July 13, 2012. King College Baseball head coach Blaine Brown and assistant coach George Laoo both address a packed house of players, parents, and their families about the joys of youth baseball for all involved.

Prior to dinner service, assistant coach George Laoo reminisced on his playing days as a southwest Virginia little leaguer competing for state titles and then made way for Head Coach Blaine Brown. In front of players and families of the ten teams from across the state of Tennessee, Brown emphasized the joy that the game brings to all those involved in the Little League system as well as how youth baseball should be focused on the fun that it provides.

"Always remember, baseball is an amazing game," said Brown. "Too often we all forget how fun and awesome this game is meant to be so when you go out there this weekend, just have fun."

Brown and Laoo then engaged the crowd with what, but baseball talk. Players from all teams swarmed both coaches as they threw stats, facts, and trivia at one another until the next attraction of the night began his act.

After a short social session a smorgasbord of pizza, cake, and beverages were served to all in attendance before a live performance from local magician, David Vaught. After dazzling a large crowd with illusions and tricks that turned one-hundred dollar bills into one dollar bills, transplanted wedding rings into unopened tea bags, and made tabletops float the crowd over more than 200 people dispersed into the night to prepare for the week-long tournament.

The Tennessee Little League 9 and 10-year old State Baseball Tournament begins on Saturday morning with the first pitch of the tournament being thrown at 11 a.m. The tournament will be played from Saturday, July 14 through Friday, July 20 (weather permitting) at West Field on Cedar Street in Bristol, Tenn.